NUJ Memebership ??

Richard Brooks

Richard Brooks

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Im assuming someone on this forum is a member and would be able to explain to me how this union works? If you would be so kind?

I have a full time job and at the moment photography is my part time enthusiasm. Ideally i would like to be a recognised photographer with regular work at Sports venues or exotic red carpet events to which i thought obtaining a membership here would be beneficial and not just get work when it happens to come my way.

I understand i cant get full membership now as i am not working fulll time as a photographer, aspiring to be part time or free lance i apparently do not qualify for and even as a token member paying £5 a month. After two months subscription my application was declined! and "we are issuing you with a £10 refund"said the email with no further information as to why or advice how to get on this membership ladder?

Is it necessary for me to pursue this? Try another union or how do i go about changing my ways so next time i can be considered and not ignored in such a way? Could anyone be kind and helpful enough to advise please? Would be very much appreciated

Kind Regards
 
I'm not a member of any union but I'm guessing you are not submitting enough images to the media to be considered as a press photographer hence why they have rejected your application. I can't understand why you think joining a union is going to help you get access to sports venues.
 
I think it may be having the Press Card that is issued as part of being a NUJ member that may help with access to sports venues - although it helps it won't necessarily get access in itself but can help in your applications for accreditation. The rules with the NUJ is that you need to earn the majority of your income from photography I believe.
 
admirable said:
I can't understand why you think joining a union is going to help you get access to sports venues.
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That - the idea of waving a press card and automatically getting access to 'exotic red carpet events' is woefully naive - I don't do this kind of work, but my understanding is that to get a press card you need to either be accredited to a particular publication or to have a substantial portfolio and recommendations/published work* etc if you are a freelancer , since you have neither it is not suprising that you've been rejected

https://www.nuj.org.uk/join/presscards/

someone like @DemiLion or @KIPAX can probably give you the full SP

(*that said I was once told by a music journo that he got a snide press card for two pairs of levi's and a wrap of cocaine - however that is mere heresay and in the interests of my not getting sued i hasten to add probably entirely untrue)
 
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I'm confused. Why would you want to join a union for journalists when you aren't a journalist?

That's like me saying I want to join the National Union of Teachers.

Thanks to people like you applying for slots at events like the Sainsbury's Games for sh1ts and giggles, genuine sports agencies get their allocation of accredited slots cut because there aren't enough spaces.
 
Plenty information about criteria for becoming a member on the NUJ website!! Why ask here and have people guessing at the answers!!
 
It's actually very easy to get NUJ membership. Be a journalist, earning the majority of your income from it. The clue is in the name.

As others have said, having a press card is only step 1. Once you have acquired one, you then need to apply for accreditation for the events you want to photograph. It's only likely you'll get this if you are going to provide the organisers with coverage they can't get otherwise (e.g. a newspaper that isn't already covering the event).
 
NUJ have done very little for photographers recently sitting by whilst many are made redundant. They've even run courses for journalists to teach them how to take news pics with an iPhone!! I wouldn't bother joining if I were you.
 
Never felt the need to join the NUJ but then again I have always been against unions in any shape or form

Richard Brooks said:
Ideally i would like to be a recognised photographer with regular work at Sports venues or exotic red carpet events to which i thought obtaining a membership here would be beneficial
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However going from the above.. Being a member of the NUJ doesnt get you jobs or work and the press pass isnt actually a pass its a form of ID and for the most part pretty useless.. Had mine for many years . and like many others.. its hardly ever used... and on the odd occasion I have shown it (for example: when signing in at schools to shoot sports day maybe) .. people look at it and wonder if a 7 yr old made it.. its that cheap looking :) For big sports events or even little sports events it has no use... cant comment on exotic red carpet events but am guessing it doesnt hold much water there either... A press card is handy to have just in case..its not a magic pass..
 
OP I will do you a press ID for £40 just PM me a passport sized picture
 
Keith W said:
OP I will do you a press ID for £40 just PM me a passport sized picture
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He could do it himself with about 30 minutes in photoshop - NUJ helpfully provide a sample of what its got to look like on their website :lol:
 
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